Image forming apparatus having transmission function, and control method and storage medium therefor

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus capable of maintaining user&#39;s convenience in performing transmission while utilizing a transmission setting even when destinations usable for the transmission according to the transmission setting are restricted to a predetermined destination such as an authenticated user&#39;s address in order to enhance security. In a case where destinations usable for the transmission according to the transmission setting are restricted to an authenticated user&#39;s address and where at least one transmission destination registered in the transmission setting differs from the user&#39;s address, the at least one transmission destination registered in the transmission setting is rewritten to the authenticated user&#39;s address.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having afunction to perform transmission to a destination registered in atransmission setting, a control method therefor, and a storage mediumstoring a program for causing a computer to execute the control method.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, image forming apparatuses have been demanded to bereduced in cost and size and to have high functionality. Some imageforming apparatus is configured to cooperate with an external device(e.g. a personal computer) to provide a highly convenient function. Forexample, there is known a multi-function peripheral that has a functionto perform transmission via a network to a destination selected fromamong destinations registered in a transmission setting.

When transmission is performed to a destination registered in atransmission setting, there is a fear of security problems. To enhancesecurity and to simplify a destination input operation, an imagetransmission apparatus has been proposed that has a user authenticationfunction and that automatically sets a transmission destinationaccording to authentication when a user is successfully authenticated(see, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.2010-220256). Also, there has been proposed a method in whichtransmission destinations usable for transmission according totransmission setting are restricted to an authenticated user's address.

However, if transmission to destinations other than e.g. theauthenticated user's address is restricted, there is a fear that user'sconvenience in utilizing the transmission setting is lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable ofmaintaining user's convenience in performing transmission whileutilizing a transmission setting even when destinations usable for thetransmission according to the transmission setting are restricted to apredetermined destination such as an authenticated user's address inorder to enhance security, and provides a control method for the imageforming apparatus and a storage medium storing a program for causing acomputer to execute the control method.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided an imageforming apparatus having a transmission function to perform transmissionaccording to a transmission setting in which at least one transmissiondestination is registered, comprising an obtaining unit configured toobtain a predetermined destination, and a control unit configured, in acase where destinations usable for the transmission according to thetransmission setting are restricted to the predetermined destination andwhere the at least one transmission destination registered in thetransmission setting differs from the predetermined destination, torewrite the at least one transmission destination registered in thetransmission setting to the predetermined destination.

With this invention, user's convenience to utilize the transmissionsetting can be maintained even when security is enhanced by restrictingdestinations usable for transmission according to the transmissionsetting to the predetermined destination such as an authenticated user'saddress.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware construction of an imageforming apparatus according to a first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a mode selection screen displayedon an operation panel of the image forming apparatus and showing anexample of a transmission setting screen displayed on the operationpanel in response to mode selection on the mode selection screen in acase where transmission to an authenticated user's address and to otheraddresses is permitted;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a transmission setting screendisplayed on the operation panel in response to mode selection on themode selection screen in a state that transmission only to anauthenticated user's address is permitted;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a transmission destinationdesignating process performed by the image forming apparatus of thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of a transmission destinationdesignating process performed by an image forming apparatus according toa second embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on theoperation panel in step S504 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in detail below withreference to the drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows in block diagram a hardware construction of an imageforming apparatus according to a first embodiment of this invention. Itshould be noted that illustrated blocks represent hardware modules ofthe apparatus, and arrows between the blocks represent the flows of dataand instructions.

The image forming apparatus 100 is a multi-function peripheral that hasa printing function, an image reading function, a transmission function,a user authentication function, etc.

The image forming apparatus 100 includes a controller unit 101, andincludes a printing unit 107, a reading unit 109, an operation panel110, and a line I/F 112, which are controlled by the controller unit101.

The controller unit 101 includes a CPU 102, a RAM 103, a ROM 104, aprinting unit I/F 106, a reading unit I/F 108, a modem 111, a USB I/F115, and a network I/F 118, which are connected to a system bus 105.

The CPU 102 reads control programs stored in a program area of the ROM104 onto the RAM 103 and executes the same to thereby totally controlrespective parts of the image forming apparatus 100. It should be notedthat the control programs can be stored in e.g. a hard disk drive (HDD),not shown.

The printing unit I/F 106 is an interface (I/F) with a printing unit 107(printer engine), and the reading unit I/F 108 is an interface with areading unit 109 (scanner engine). The CPU 102 processes a read imagesignal input from the reading unit 109 via the reading unit I/F 108, andoutputs a resultant recording image signal to the printing unit 107 viathe printing unit I/F 106. Although the printing unit 107 and thereading unit 109 are incorporated in the image forming apparatus 100 inthe illustrated example, these units can be externally connected to theimage forming apparatus 100.

The CPU 102 causes a display device of the operation panel 110 todisplay characters, symbols, etc. by using font information stored in afont area of the ROM 104, and receives instruction information suppliedfrom the operation panel 110 according to a user's instruction. The ROM104 has a data area stored with apparatus information of the imageforming apparatus 100, user's telephone book information, departmentmanagement information, etc., which are read and/or updated by the CPU102, where necessary.

The modem 111 is connected to a public line network 114 via the line I/F112 and via a telephone line 113, and capable of communicating withanother image forming apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a telephone set,etc., which are not shown.

The USB I/F 115 is connected via a USB cable 116 to an external device122 such as a PC, and controls communication between the controller unit101 and the external device 122.

The network I/F 118 is connected with an authentication server 121 via acommunication cable such as a LAN cable 119 and via a network 120 suchas a LAN, and controls communication between the controller unit 101 andthe authentication server 121.

The authentication server 121 retains pieces of user information such aspieces of destination information respectively representing user'saddresses. The CPU 102 obtains destination information associated withan authenticated user from the authentication server 121. It should benoted that the pieces of user's address information can be retained inthe image forming apparatus instead of being retained in theauthentication server.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, a description will be given of atransmission destination designating process that is performed by theimage forming apparatus 100 at the time of transmission. In thefollowing, an example case where scanned data is transmitted by mailwill be described.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a mode selection screen displayed on theoperation panel 110 of the image forming apparatus 100, and shows anexample of a transmission setting screen displayed on the operationpanel 110 in response to mode selection on the mode selection screen ina case where transmission to an authenticated user's address and toother addresses is permitted.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes the mode selection screen forselecting any one of modes of the image forming apparatus 100.Transmission settings for respective ones of the modes are registered inthe image forming apparatus 100. In the case of mail transmission ofscanned data, each transmission setting includes one or moretransmission destinations (such as addresses) and includes an imageprocessing setting about image reading size, color mode, etc.

When any one of the modes is selected on the mode selection screen 201in a state that transmission to an authenticated user's address and toother addresses is permitted, a shift is made to the transmissionsetting screen for displaying the transmission setting corresponding tothe selected mode. For example, when a “mode 1” is selected on the modeselection screen 201, display is switched from the mode selection screen201 to a transmission setting screen 202. When a “mode 2” is selected,display is switched to a transmission setting screen 203.

On the transmission setting screen 202, indications “number ofdestinations: 2” and “To: a@abc.co.jp” are displayed. This indicatesthat a transmission destination “a@abc.co.jp” and an unillustratedtransmission destination are registered in the transmission setting thatcorresponds to the mode 1. To display the unillustrated transmissiondestination, a scroll button 202 a is pressed.

On the transmission setting screen 202, indications such as “readingsize: A4” and “color mode: color” are displayed. In other words,contents of these indications are registered as the image processingsetting for the mode 1. It should be noted that the content of the imageprocessing setting is not limited to the illustrated one.

On the transmission setting screen 203, indications “number ofdestinations: 1” and “To: b@abc.co.jp” are displayed. This indicatesthat only the transmission destination “b@abc.co.jp” is registered inthe transmission setting that corresponds to the mode 2. In the imageprocessing setting for the mode 2, “reading size: A4,” “color mode:monochrome” and the like are registered.

As described above, the user can select a desired mode on the modeselection screen 201, whereby the transmission setting (transmissiondestination and image processing setting) corresponding to the selectedmode can be read and utilized from among the transmission settingsregistered in the image forming apparatus 100.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a transmission setting screen that isdisplayed on the operation panel 110 in response to the mode selectionon the mode selection screen in a state that transmission only to anauthenticated user's address is permitted.

In this example, it is assumed that a user having a transmissiondestination “b@abc.co.jp” is authenticated in advance by the userauthentication function of the image forming apparatus 100. It is alsoassumed that in the ROM 104 or the like there is stored destinationrestriction information representing whether or not destinations usablefor transmission according to transmission setting be restricted to apredetermined destination, e.g., a safe destination such as user'saddress. In this example, it is assumed that there is stored destinationrestriction information representing that transmission destinations berestricted to user's address.

As previously described, two transmission destinations including thedestination “a@abc.co.jp” are registered in the transmission settingcorresponding to the mode 1. When the transmission to the authenticateduser's address and to other addresses is permitted, the two transmissiondestinations registered in the transmission setting are displayed asshown in FIG. 2 on the transmission setting screen 202.

In this example, the user whose address is b@abc.co.jp is authenticatedin advance, and destinations usable for the transmission according totransmission setting are restricted to the authenticated user's address“b@abc.co.jp.” In other words, transmission only to the authenticateduser's address is permitted. When the mode 1 is selected on the modeselection screen 201 of FIG. 3, the two transmission destinationsregistered in the transmission setting are rewritten to theauthenticated user's address “b@abc.co.jp,” and display is switched fromthe mode selection screen 201 to the transmission setting screen 302. Onthe screen 302, the transmission destination “b@abc.co.jp” after theswitching is displayed. On the other hand, the image processing settingfor the mode 1 is not rewritten. In other words, setting contents suchas “reading size: A4” and “color mode: color” are displayed.

When the mode 2 is selected on the mode selection screen 201 of FIG. 3,display is switched from the mode selection screen 201 to thetransmission setting screen 303. On the transmission setting screen 303,the transmission destination “b@abc.co.jp” is displayed, without beingrewritten, since only the authenticated user's address “b@abc.co.jp” isregistered, as transmission destination, in the transmission setting forthe mode 2.

As described above, the authenticated user can enhance the security inperforming transmission by selecting, as transmission destination, asafe destination (e.g., user's address) on the transmission settingscreen 302 or 303.

FIG. 4 shows in flowchart the flow of a transmission destinationdesignating process performed by the image forming apparatus 100. Thisprocess is performed by the CPU 102 by executing a relevant controlprogram read from the ROM 104.

In step S401, the CPU 102 causes the operation panel 110 to display themode selection screen 201, and accepts a mode selected on the screen201.

In step S402, the CPU 102 reads all of one or more transmissiondestinations contained in the transmission setting that corresponds tothe selected mode, and obtains an authenticated user's address from theauthentication server 121 or obtains a user's address obtained from theserver 121 and then stored into e.g. the RAM 103 at the time of userauthentication. Next, the CPU 102 determines whether or not all of theone or more transmission destinations contained in the transmissionsetting are each identical to the authenticated user's address.

If all of the one or more transmission destinations are each identicalto the authenticated user's address (YES to step S402), the CPU 102proceeds to step S405. On the other hand, if any one of the one or moretransmission destinations differs from the authenticated user's address(NO to step S402), the CPU 102 proceeds to step S403.

In step S403, the CPU 102 determines whether or not destinations usablefor transmission according to transmission setting are restricted to theauthenticated user's address, while referring to the destinationrestriction information.

If transmission to an address other than the authenticated user'saddress is permitted (NO to step S403), the CPU 102 proceeds to stepS405. On the other hand, if destinations usable for transmissionaccording to transmission setting are restricted to the authenticateduser's address (YES to step S403), the CPU 102 proceeds to step S404where the CPU 102 rewrites each of the one or more transmissiondestinations registered in the transmission setting to the authenticateduser's address.

In step S405, the CPU 102 causes the operation panel 110 to display thetransmission setting (one or more transmission destinations and imageprocessing setting) that corresponds to the selected mode. In step S406,the CPU 102 waits for a transmission start instruction given by the uservia the operation panel 110. When the transmission start instruction isgiven, transmission processing is performed in step S407.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, in a case wheredestinations usable for transmission according to transmission settingare restricted to an authenticated user's address and where any one ofone or more transmission destinations registered in the transmissionsetting differs from the authenticated user's address, all of the one ormore transmission destinations registered in the transmission settingare each rewritten to the authenticated user's address. As a result,even when security is enhanced by restricting transmission destinationsto a safe destination (e.g., authenticated user's address), the user'sconvenience in utilizing the transmission setting can be maintained.

Second Embodiment

An image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment is the sameas that of the first embodiment except that the user is prompted toconfirm and select whether or not transmission destinations in atransmission setting are to be rewritten to a user's address. Adescription of points common to both the embodiments will be omitted.

FIG. 5 shows in flowchart the flow of a transmission destinationdesignating process performed by the image forming apparatus of thisembodiment. This process is performed by the CPU 102 by executing arelevant control program read from the ROM 104.

In steps S501-S503 of FIG. 5, the CPU 102 performs the same processingas that performed in steps S401-S403 of FIG. 4. More specifically, theCPU 102 determines whether or not one or more transmission destinationscontained in a transmission setting corresponding to a mode selected onthe mode selection screen 201 are each identical to the address of theauthenticated user. If the answer to this determination is YES, the flowproceeds to step S504.

In step S504, the CPU 102 causes the operation panel 110 to display aconfirmation and selection screen 601 shown in FIG. 6 for prompting theuser to confirm and select whether one or more transmission destinationsin the transmission setting are each to be rewrite to a safe destinatione.g. the user's address. On the confirmation and selection screen 601, a“YES” button 602 and a “NO” button 603 are displayed.

In step S505, based on a user's instruction, the CPU 102 determineswhether or not one or more transmission destinations in the transmissionsetting are to be rewritten. More specifically, when the “NO” button 603on the confirmation and selection screen 601 is pressed, it isdetermined that the one or more transmission destinations are not to berewritten, and the present process is completed. On the other hand, ifthe ‘YES” button 602 on the screen 601 is pressed, it is determined thatthe one or more transmission destinations are to be rewritten, and theprocess proceeds to step S506.

In steps S506-S509, the CPU 102 executes the same processing as thatperformed in steps S404-S407 of FIG. 4. More specifically, after the oneor more transmission destinations in the transmission setting are eachrewritten to the authenticated user's address in step S506, or if theanswer to step S502 is YES, or if the answer to step S503 is NO, thetransmission setting is displayed on the operation panel 110 andtransmission processing is performed in response to a transmission startinstruction.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, inadvertenttransmission to an undesired destination can be prevented by permittingthe user to select whether or not the one or more transmissiondestinations in the transmission setting are to be rewritten to e.g. theuser's address.

In the first and second embodiments, when any one of one or moretransmission destinations in a transmission setting registered in theimage forming apparatus 100 differs from an authenticated user'saddress, each of the one or more transmission destinations is rewrittento the user's address. However, whether rewriting of each transmissiondestination to the authenticated user's address is to be permitted orprohibited can be set. Even in that case, transmission to a destinationother than a safe destination such as the authenticated user's addresscan be prohibited.

In the first and second embodiments, in a case where destinations usablefor transmission according to transmission setting are restricted to asafe destination (e.g. an authenticated user's address) and where anyone of the one or more transmission destinations registered in thetransmission setting differs from e.g. the authenticated user's address,each of the one or more transmission destinations is rewritten to theauthenticated user's address. However, in a case where at least onedestination identical to the authenticated user's address is containedin transmission destinations registered in a transmission setting, onlythe at least one destination identical to the authenticated user'saddress can be left in the transmission setting, while deleting at leastone other transmission destination from the transmission setting.

Other Embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment(s) of the present invention, andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more ofa central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or othercircuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separatecomputer processors. The computer executable instructions may beprovided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storagemedium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of ahard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), astorage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2013-131612, filed Jun. 24, 2013, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus having atransmission function to perform transmission of image data, comprising:a display; a memory configured to store at least one transmissionsetting including a first transmission destination and an imageprocessing setting; and one or more processors configured to execute aset of instructions to: authenticate a user; obtain a secondtransmission destination, different from the first transmissiondestination, registered for the authenticated user; in a case where ausable transmission destination is restricted to the second transmissiondestination registered for the authenticated user, change the firsttransmission destination included in the at least one transmissionsetting to the second transmission destination; display, on the display,the second transmission destination and the image processing settingincluded in the at least one transmission setting stored in the memory,when the one transmission setting is selected; and transmit, accordingto a user instruction, the image data to the second transmissiondestination displayed on the display based on the image processingsetting displayed on the display.
 2. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus has a userauthentication function for authenticating the user.
 3. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured to execute the instructions to, in acase where the usable transmission destination is not restricted to thesecond transmission destination, display the first transmissiondestination included in the at least one transmission setting togetherwith the image processing setting included in the at least onetransmission setting even when the first transmission destinationdiffering from the second transmission destination is included in the atleast one transmission setting.
 4. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are furtherconfigured to execute the instructions to: in the case where the usabletransmission destination is restricted to the second transmissiondestination and the first transmission destination differing from thesecond transmission destination is included in the at least onetransmission setting, prompt the user to select whether or not to changethe first transmission destination differing from the secondtransmission destination included in the at least one transmissionsetting to the second transmission destination; and in a case where aselection to perform the change is received from the user, change thefirst usable transmission destination to the second transmissiondestination.
 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute theinstructions to set whether or not to change the first transmissiondestination differing from the second transmission destination includedin the at least one transmission setting to the second transmissiondestination in advance.
 6. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the usable transmission destination is an e-mailaddress.
 7. A control method for an image processing apparatus having atransmission function to perform transmission of image data and storingat least one transmission setting including a first transmissiondestination and an image processing setting, the control methodcomprising: authenticating a user; obtaining a predetermined secondtransmission destination, different from the first transmissiondestination, registered for the authenticated user; in a case where ausable transmission destination is restricted to the second transmissiondestination registered for the authenticated user, changing the firsttransmission destination included in the at least one transmissionsetting to the second transmission destination; displaying, on adisplay, the second transmission destination and the image processingsetting included in the stored at least one transmission setting, whenthe one transmission setting is selected; and transmitting, according toa user instruction, the image data to the second transmissiondestination displayed on the display based on the image processingsetting displayed on the display.
 8. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute acontrol method for an image processing apparatus having a transmissionfunction to perform transmission of image data and storing at least onetransmission setting including a first transmission destination and animage processing setting, the control method comprising: authenticatinga user; obtaining a predetermined second transmission destination,different from the first transmission destination, registered for theauthenticated user; in a case where a usable transmission destination isrestricted to the second transmission destination registered for theauthenticated user, changing the first transmission destination includedin the at least one transmission setting to the second transmissiondestination; displaying, on a display, the second transmissiondestination and the image processing setting included in the stored atleast one transmission setting, when the one transmission setting isselected; and transmitting, according to a user instruction, the imagedata to the second transmission destination displayed on the displaybased on the image processing setting displayed on the display.
 9. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured to execute the instructions todisplay, on the display, a selection screen for receiving a selection ofwhether or not to restrict the usable transmission destination to thesecond transmission destination registered for the authenticated user.